plate no. 1154

Self-portrait (or Venetian Woman; attributed)

oilMannerism (Late Renaissance)self-portraitportraitwomanlacepearlshairhand

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It will also provide practice in depicting fine details like lace and pearls.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, paying attention to the placement of the head, shoulders, and hand.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, and clothing.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 05
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension in the skin tones.
step 06
Paint the lace details, using thin layers of white and gray to create the delicate texture.
step 07
Render the pearls, paying attention to the highlights and reflections.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed to create a cohesive and polished painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · raw sienna

Mix skin tones by blending white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Use ultramarine blue to cool down shadows. Create the lace by mixing white with small amounts of gray and blue.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·rendering lace

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Overworking the skin tones and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Making the lace look too flat or uniform.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (ivory black, burnt umber, titanium white, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, raw sienna)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat, sizes 2-8)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Painting medium